Plans for Ketchikan Center (Econ-2018)

Hey Pilots,

I was thinking of what might be the next big addition here at SPA. I got to looking at the Return To Misty Moorings (RTMM) site and our partnership with them that Yoland established. They have great freeware scenery (for FSX/P3d), and I got to thinking that we might incorporate some of their scenery and missions into a more formalized flight group here at SPA. My next thought was where best to put this new addition. I already have the Adventure Packs page, but that's been our own scenery (for the most part) and our own scenarios. I didn't really want to mix that with the RTMM stuff, so I was thinking of another possible spot. That brought me to our Econ-2018 page with our four centers.

Currently the Econ-2018 page has two of the four centers active. The first, Juneau Center, is similar to Adventure Packs, but doesn't require the optional scenery downloads. Being part of the Econ module, it does require SPAACARs program for filing PIREPS. This means that FlightGear and perhaps even XPlane users might be able to fly the flights with SPAACARS, even though they can't always enjoy the optional scenery.

The second center (Mpls Ctr) is also unique, in that it has it's own "regional airline" system that you can use to create your own regional airline and bid from a random series of flights that change daily. Again, this uses SPAACARS and the economics are recorded for your 'regional airline", in addition to counting towards your regular PIREP listed in your logbook.

So, I'm thinking of using Ketchikan Center as yet another unique center - using the RTMM flights, missions and scenery, but structured into groups of flights that will be posted at the Ketchikan Center. Again, this will be SPAACARs required, and FSX/p3d, as those are the only sims that RTMM supports (sorry XPlane and FlightGear). Anyway, I'm thinking that it will be similar to the Adventure Pack flights in that I can probably automate the completion icons so that they show on the Awards page and perhaps the forum signature too, but that signature award is already pretty big with 15 Adventure Pack icons currently possible.

Anyway...just thinking of adding some additional links between RTMM and their wonderful free scenery and our own structured flight options here at SPA. Of course, you can always pick an RTMM flight and fly it here at SPA for hourly credit following Yoland's directions for flying RTMM flights, but I was just thinking of adding some additional structure and incentives.

So...that's just some thoughts as I sit here in the Pilot's Lounge. <img src="tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-prost.gif" alt="prost">

John

Interesting idea John. I completed most of the RTMM flight several years ago. Their scenery is a lot of fun and finding their destinations can be tricky (if you don't cheat). Are you thinking of engaging SPAACARS in the Econ Mode, or will be just be for logging the flight?

Mike

I haven't entirely thought out the details yet - just floating the idea. However, I was figuring on implementing the Econ Mode, since it would use one of the Econ Centers. Also, unless I don't remember correctly, your algorithm encompasses the STOL aircraft that RTMM is modeled around. It would seem like an ideal match because the flights require similar plane models. I'll also set up a separate financial accounting page for this group as with the other centers.

As you point out, there are many challenging flights already available. I haven't done as many as you have, but I did a number of the cabin check flights (the seasonal check of the remote cabins) and flights to Misty's Place. These are great flights with Orbx/FTX quality freeware scenery.

The only issue is the rather detailed scenery library installs that must be done initially, and the <strong>four required payware scenery packs</strong> Tongass Fjords, Pacific Fjords, SAK and PNW.

I was thinking of starting with the medical dispatches, but probably excluding the helo-required flights that don't really fit our econ mode. I'm also figuring on completion icons as with the Juneau Center that will show automatically on the awards page - but not the forum signature. I will separate the flights into various groups, and we can add new ones we dream up using the RTMM scenery or ones that RTMM creates. That still leaves Juneau for us to create our own non-RTMM flights with our own optional scenery just like the current groups.

I'm seeing the four centers less as geographical entities and more as centers with different type or style of flights offered:

Juneau- SPA flight adventures using default and orbx/ftx scenery with optional scenery downloads we create. Since these flights use generally available airports, Juneau Center can be flown by FlightGear and Xplane (if the econ stuff works with Xplane) pilots as well I think.

Mpls Center- This center offers our flight-bidding system where the available flights change daily and pilots create their own "regional airline" and can pick from the daily changing flight list. Each day the flights change as does the cargo and passenger requirements. This also should work for FlightGear pilots - and perhaps Xplane if the econ stuff works (I don't know because I haven't tested Xplane with SPAACARS).

With Ketchikan Center linked to RTMM, that leaves Anchorage Center yet to be determined.

I was going to test a few of the medical dispatches yesterday, but spent most of the day applying fixes for the AI Shipping pack they have so that it works with my P3dv4. I might have time to explore more today with rain expected to cancel bicycling <img src="tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-velo.gif" alt="velo" width="28" height="30">.

John<br /><br /><!-- editby --><br /><br /><em>edited by: jer029, Aug 05, 2019 - 08:42 AM</em><!-- end editby -->

I did try to build the Econ 2018 model so that flights flown in bush aircraft could be profitable. I haven't done much testing at that end. Maybe that is something I could get to if I have a little free time.

I think I've flown a number of short STOL flights that have been profitable, and not all of these will necessarily be profitable. I'm guessing the medical transports rarely are...unless you want factor in HMO financials to your calculations <img src="tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif" alt="wink">. So, the economics won't necessarily apply for the different groupings. Also influenced by "cheating", as you referred to it, They do describe the different flight situations nicely at RTMM for the medical dispatches - "Direct To" with gps in good weather, but having to thread your way around mountains at lower altitude in bad weather. So...the weather settings each pilot uses - or weather encountered during the flight will impact this too. Successful completion of the flight/mission will probably be more significant in many of these flights than the economics, but it will be interesting to see how the financials come out too.

I realized that I hadn't reinstalled my RTMM stuff after my last clean install of my simulator. I spent most of this morning and afternoon installing the RTMM libraries and playing around with the first fixed wing medical dispatch. I really like what I see so far.

<img src="coppermine/albums/userpics/10003/3/e009b-1e.jpg" width="1057" height="590">


<img src="coppermine/albums/userpics/10003/3/e009b-1d.jpg" width="1059" height="591">

John<br /><br /><!-- editby --><br /><br /><em>edited by: jer029, Oct 04, 2019 - 07:53 PM</em><!-- end editby -->